California Baptist University
Big 12 Championships
CBU Competes on Day 1 of the BIG 12 Wrestling Tournament
3/4/2023 8:10:00 PM | Wrestling
TULSA--- For the first time in program history, the California Baptist University wrestling squad competed in the BIG 12 Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma. CBU joined the conference as an affiliate and debuted in the conference this season.
The tournament featured six teams in the NWCA top-25 poll and two others that received votes. Iowa State, West Virginia, and Missouri all finished in the top 10, with Missouri entering as the winners of last year's tournament.
CBU earned two seeded wrestlers, but due to an injury, Elijah Griffin could not compete and was replaced by Devin Garcia. Hunter Leake was the #6 seed in the 133 lb bracket and faced Kobe Nelms of Utah Valley in the opening round. Leake took his opening round via decision 5-3 on reversal in the third period.
Leake gets the early takedown! 2-0 after the first period. 🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/SB481pgwrb
— California Baptist Wrestling (@CBUwrestling) March 4, 2023
Leake battled Iowa State's Zach Redding in the quarterfinals but could not secure the win and ultimately lost via decision 4-2. Chris Island, Louis Rojas, and Nolan Miller-Johnston fought in close bouts on the afternoon, battling through three periods with neither surrendering more than five points in five of their six matches.
Two CBU wrestlers were one match shy of being an NCAA tournament qualifier in Chris Island and Hunter Leake, who both came within two points of earning that distinction.
Overall, the Lancers faced four top-3 seeds in the tournament and ten top-5 seeds. CBU also matched up against multiple national and conference champions, including Keegan O'Toole of Missouri in the 165 bout and Tanner Sloan in the 197 class.
Session 1 Results:
125: Tanner Jordan (S. Dakota St.) pins Devin Garcia (CBU) (4:28)
133: Hunter Leake wins by decision over Kobe Nelms (UVU) 5-3
Zach Redding (Iowa State) wins by decision over Hunter Leake (CBU) 4-2
141: Allan Hart (Missouri) wins by technical fall over Christian Nunez (CBU) 16-0
149: Mitch Moore (Oklahoma) pins Chaz Hallmark (0:46)
157: Cael Swensen (S. Dakota St.) wins by decision over Nolan Miller-Johnston (CBU) 3-0
165: Keegan O'Toole (Missouri) pins Frank Almaguer (CBU) (6:31)
174: Sam Wolf (Air Force) wins by major decision over Louis Rojas (CBU) 14-4
184: Colton Hawks (Missouri) pins Peter Acciardi (CBU) (1:40)
197: Tanner Sloan (S. Dakota St.) pins Caden Gerlach (CBU) (3:37)
285: Konnor Doucet (Okla. State) wins by decision over Chris Island (CBU) 2-0
Session 2:
125: Carlos Negrete Jr. (N. Dakota St.) wins by decision over Devin Garcia (CBU) 6-3
133: Wyatt Henson (Okla.) wins by technical fall over Hunter Leake (CBU) 18-3
141: Clay Carlson (S. Dakota St.) pins Christian Nunez (CBU) (4:48)
149: Kellyn March (N. Dakota St.) pins Chaz Hallmark (CBU) (2:52)
157: Derek Holschlag (N. Iowa) pins Nolan Miller Johnston (CBU) (0:58)
165: Seamus Casey (Air Force) wins by decision over Frank Almaguer (CBU) 6-0
174: Demetrius Romero (UVU) wins by decision over Louis Rojas (CBU) 5-1
184: Keegan Moore (Okla.) pins Peter Acciardi (CBU) (0:58)
197: Austin Cooley (WVU) wins by decision over Caden Gerlach (CBU) 4-3
285: Tyrell Gordon (N. Iowa) wins by decision over Chris Island (CBU) 2-0
Next, Chris Island will battle for the ninth seed in the heavyweight division at noon on Sunday. Island will face Chase Trussell of Utah Valley first and must win two matches to secure the ninth spot in the division.
Players Mentioned
